Display device, information terminal device, display method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information terminal device ( 100 ) includes a message display section ( 304 ) which (i) displays a plurality of display regions on a display screen so that the plurality of display regions are arranged along a vertical direction of the display screen, the plurality of display regions each being for a time series, and (ii) displays, in each of the plurality of display regions, a posted message of a time series corresponding to the each of the plurality of display regions; and display change section ( 308 ) which, in a case where a horizontal moving operation is carried out with respect to a given one of the plurality of display regions, sequentially changes a posted message to be displayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device and an informationterminal device which are capable of displaying, on a display screen, aposted message of a message-posting site. The present invention alsorelates to a display method, a program, and a recording medium which areused in the display device and the information terminal device.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, the use of SNS (Social Network Service) is rapidlygrowing. In particular, many users use what are called message-postingsites, which are communication services enabling users of a network tocommunicate with each other.

A message-posting site works in such a manner that each user posts amessage from a terminal device at given timing, and messages posted(hereinafter referred to as “posted messages”) by each user aredisplayed one after the other on a real-time basis on each terminaldevice. The act of posting a message to a message-posting site is alsocalled “twittering”.

Particularly these days, not only individuals but also companies,organizations, and the like have obtained their own accounts to utilizea message-posting site as an information-offering tool. Typical examplesof such message-posting sites include “Twitter (Registered Trademark)”(see Non-patent Literature 1 below). “Twitter” in particular can beclassified as what is called a “microblogging site” because “Twitter”limits the number of letters of a posted message relatively small.

In general, each posted message posted on a message-posting site isassociated with a posting date and time of the each posted message.Accordingly, a plurality of messages posted on the message-posting siteconstitute a time series of the plurality of posted messages. On aterminal device which has obtained the time series from themessage-posting site, the plurality of posted messages included in thetime series are displayed so as to be arranged along a verticaldirection of a display screen in order of posting (such a time series iscalled “timeline” in “Twitter”). Every time a new message is posted onthe message-posting site, the time series is updated and the update isimmediately reflected to the terminal device (that is, displayed on areal-time basis).

At this time, in a case where not all of the posted messages can fit inthe display screen, a part of the posted messages (for example, someposted messages starting from the most recently posted message) isdisplayed. A user of the terminal device can view the rest of the postedmessages by scrolling the time series in the vertical direction, therebycausing the rest of the posted messages to be displayed sequentially onthe display screen.

Particularly these days, the use of information terminal devices, suchas an electronic book reader, a smart phone, and the like, which includea touch panel is increasingly spreading. With such an informationterminal device, by carrying out a vertical flicking operation on adisplay screen displaying a time series of a plurality of postedmessages, the plurality of posted messages constituting the time seriescan be scrolled in a vertical direction of the display screen so as tobe sequentially displayed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [Patent Literature 1]-   Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2006-145908 A    (Publication Date: Jul. 17, 2008)

Non-patent Literature

-   [Non-patent Literature 1]-   Twitter, Inc., “Twitter”, [online], Twitter, Inc., [Search date:    Nov. 30, 2011], the Internet <URL: http://twitter.com/>

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In “Twitter”, by specifying a specific account (a user account, aplurality of user accounts, a group account including a plurality ofuser accounts, or the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as“specific account”)), a time series that includes only posted messagesof the specific account can be displayed. It is also possible in“Twitter” to specify a plurality of specific accounts to thereby cause atime series of each of the plurality of specific accounts to bedisplayed.

However, it is not possible in “Twitter” to display a plurality of timeseries simultaneously. As such, in order to view a plurality of timeseries, a user needs to carry out a relatively time-consuming operation,for example, displaying a list of time series and selecting a given timeseries, to thereby change the time series to be displayed on the displayscreen.

Conventionally, there has been use of a technique in which a pluralityof pieces of content are displayed side by side on a display screen and,even in a case where not all of the plurality of pieces of content fitin the display screen, all of the plurality of pieces of content can beviewed by scrolling the display screen (for example, see PatentLiterature 1 above).

In this technique, however, in a case where content that requires ascrolling operation (e.g., a time series of posted messages) is includedin the plurality of pieces of content, a scrolling operation of thecontent and a scrolling operation of the display screen need to becarried out in a distinguishable manner. This complicates each of thesescrolling operations. Further, in a case where the user fails to carryout each scrolling operation properly, an operation not intended by theuser will be carried out. For example, an operation intended for ascrolling operation of content may cause a scrolling operation of thedisplay screen to be carried out, and vice versa.

The present invention is accomplished in view of the above problem. Anobject of the present invention is to provide a display device whichallows a plurality of time series of posted messages of amessage-posting site to be viewed by a simple and reliable operation.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the object, a display device in accordance with thepresent invention is a display device capable of displaying, on adisplay screen, a posted message of a message-posting site, including:message display means which (i) displays a plurality of display regionson the display screen so that the plurality of display regions arearranged along a first direction of the display screen, the plurality ofdisplay regions each being for a time series of posted messages, and(ii) displays, in each of the plurality of display regions, a postedmessage of a time series corresponding to the each of the plurality ofdisplay regions; and display change means which, in a case where amoving operation in a second direction, which is different from thefirst direction, is carried out with respect to a given one of theplurality of display regions, sequentially changes a posted message tobe displayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The display device, the display device, the information terminal device,the display method, the program, and the recording medium in accordancewith the present invention make it possible to provide a display devicethat allows viewing a plurality of time series of posted messages of amessage-posting site by means of a simple and reliable operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an outer appearance of an informationterminal device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an informationterminal device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a displaycontrol function of an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing procedures of a display process carriedout by an information terminal device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of how a message displaysection causes a plurality of display regions to be displayed.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of a horizontal flickingoperation.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of how a display changesection causes content displayed on a display screen to be changed.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of a vertical flickingoperation.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of how a display changesection causes content displayed on a display screen to be changed.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of how a display changesection causes content displayed on a display screen to be changed.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a specific example of a display processcarried out by an information terminal device in accordance with anembodiment, the view illustrating an example of a horizontal flickingoperation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following description will discuss an embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to drawings.

Embodiment

(General description of information terminal device 100)

First, the following will deal with an embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the description will firstgive a general description of an information terminal device 100 inaccordance with the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an outerappearance of the information terminal device 100 in accordance with theembodiment.

The information terminal device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is aninformation terminal device having portability and transportability andcapable of using various services and various applications.Specifically, the information terminal device 100 is relatively smallsized and has a battery such as a lithium ion secondary batteryincorporated therein. This allows the information terminal device 100 tobe carried around easily and used in places away from home by beingbattery driven without an external power supply (AC power supply).

The information terminal device 100 includes a display 110 whichdisplays various information. The information terminal device 100 alsoincludes a touch panel 120 and an operation button 130, which areprovided for various operations. The touch panel 120 is disposed over asurface of the display 110.

This allows the information terminal device 100 to have generalconsistency between a position on the display 110 where an object to bedisplayed is displayed and a position on the touch panel 120 where anoperation with respect to the object to be displayed is carried out.Accordingly, the user can carry out an intuitive operation (selectingoperation, moving operation, etc.) with respect to the object to bedisplayed.

Operations that can be carried out via the touch panel 120 include anoperation known as “flicking operation”. The flicking operation is anoperation of sliding the tip of a finger in touching the touch panel 120so that the position of contact between the tip of the finger and thetouch panel 120 is moved in a given direction. When a flicking operationis carried out, the information terminal device 100 can, for example,scroll the position where the object to be displayed is displayed orchange the content to be displayed, in accordance with a position ofcontact, a direction of movement, a speed of movement, and the like ofthe flicking operation.

The information terminal device 100 further includes a wirelesscommunications module 140 (see FIG. 2). This allows the informationterminal device 100 to access the Internet and use various servicesavailable on the Internet.

The information terminal device 100 has various applications installedtherein. For example, the information terminal device 100 has installedtherein an application for viewing electronic data. This allows theinformation terminal device 100 to display book data on the display 110,so that the user can view the book data. When viewing the book data, theuser can carry out various operations such as turning over pages via thetouch panel 120 or the operation button 130.

The information terminal device 100 has also installed therein anapplication for purchasing electronic data from an electronic book siteon the Internet. This allows the user to purchase desired book data fromthe electronic data site via the information terminal device 100 anddownload the purchased book data via the information terminal device100.

The information terminal device 100 has also installed therein anapplication for using a message-posting site on the Internet. Thisallows the user to post a message to the message-posting site via theinformation terminal device 100 and view a posted message on themessage-posting site via the information terminal device 100.

Note that methods for using electronic data and a message-posting sitevia the information terminal device 100 are not limited to theabove-described ones which use dedicated applications. For example, theuser can access a specific website on the Internet and, via a web pageaccordingly displayed on a WEB browser, use electronic data and amessage-posting site.

(Configuration of Information Terminal Device 100)

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the following description will discuss aconfiguration of the information terminal device 100 in accordance withthe embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configurationof the information terminal device 100 in accordance with theembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information terminal device 100 includes aprocessing circuit 102, a storage device 104, the touch panel 120, theoperation button 130, a display driving circuit 108, the display 110,and the wireless communications module 140.

(Storage Device 104)

The storage device 104 stores therein an OS (Operating System) program,various application programs, various control programs, various data,and the like. For example, the storage device 104 stores therein anapplication program for viewing electronic data, an application programfor purchasing electronic data, an application program for using amessage-posting site, and the like. The storage device 104 also storestherein book data purchased from an electronic data site, and the like.

Examples of the storage device 104 in the embodiment are not limited tothose built in the information terminal device 100, such as an HDD (Harddisk drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like, and include thosewhich are detachable, such a memory card.

(Processing Circuit 102)

The processing circuit 102 includes a processor such as a CPU and amemory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory).The processor executes a program stored in the memory or the storagedevice 104, so that various applications are executed and each sectionof the information terminal device 100 is controlled.

(Touch Panel 120 and Operation Button 130)

The touch panel 120 and the operation button 130 each serve as an inputdevice via which the user carries out various operations with respect tothe information terminal device 100. The touch panel 120 is disposedover a surface of a display panel included in the display 110. Theoperation button 130 is provided on a surface of a body of theinformation terminal device 100. Apart from these, a key, a mouse, andthe like may be employed as the input device.

(Display Driving Circuit 108 and Display 110)

The display driving circuit 108 drives the display 110 in accordancewith a video signal supplied from the processing circuit 102. Thedisplay 110 displays a video in accordance with a result of execution ofa program carried out by the processing circuit 102. In this way, thedisplay 110 functions as display means for displaying book data, aposted message, and the like. The information terminal device 100 of thepresent embodiment employs a liquid crystal display as the display 110,but may employ other displays such as an organic EL display.

(The Wireless Communications Module 140)

The wireless communications module 140 controls a wireless access to acommunications network such as a LAN or the Internet. For example, theinformation terminal device 100 can communicate data with a server orother terminal devices on the Internet by connecting to the Internet viawireless communication. At this time, the access to the Internet iscontrolled by the wireless communications module 140.

(Display Function)

The following description will specifically discuss a display functionof the information terminal device 100 of the present embodiment. Thedisplay function in the present embodiment means a display functionrelated to display of a posted message obtained from a message-postingsite.

First, with reference to FIG. 3, the following will describe aconfiguration of the display function of the information terminal device100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a displaycontrol function of the information terminal device 100 in accordancewith the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the processing circuit 102 of the informationterminal device 100 includes, as a display function related to displayof a posted message, a message acquisition section 302, a messagedisplay section 304, and a display change section 308.

(Message Acquisition Section)

The message acquisition section 302 obtains a posted message from aposting site (specifically, a server device for the posting site) on theInternet via the wireless communications module 140.

The message acquisition section 302 can obtain, from the message-postingsite, a time series of posted messages (hereinafter simply referred toas “time series”) constituted solely by posted messages of a specificaccount.

The message acquisition section 302 can also obtain, from themessage-posting site, a time series of each of a plurality of specificaccounts.

In this case, if the plurality of specific accounts belong to aplurality of posting sites, the message acquisition section 302 obtains,from each of the plurality of posting sites, a time series of acorresponding one of the specific accounts.

The user can set any account as a specific account via the informationterminal device 100. For example, the user can set, as a specificaccount, an account of another user, a company, an organization, aservice, or the like that the user has come to know through variousInternet sites such as a posting site. This allows the messageacquisition section 302 to obtain a time series of the another user, thecompany, the organization, the service, or the like. As a result, theuser can view, easily on a real-time basis, information sent out fromthe other user, the company, the organization, the service, or the likewhich interests the user.

In another case, a specific account is automatically set by anapplication used by the information terminal device 100. For example,the information terminal device 100 can obtain an account of each of aplurality of services by using an information providing site or the likethat distributes information related to the plurality of services. Thisallows the message acquisition section 302 to obtain a time series ofeach of the plurality of services. Consequently, the user can view,easily on a real-time basis, information sent out from each of theplurality of services.

(Message Display Section)

The message display section 304 causes a posted message obtained by themessage acquisition section 302 to be displayed on the display 110. Thedisplaying of the posted message can be realized by means a dedicatedapplication installed in the information terminal device 100, or can berealized by means of a web page displayed on a web browser. The postedmessage is displayed by the message display section 304 by the followingdisplay method.

The message display section 304 causes time series of a respectiveplurality of specific accounts to be simultaneously displayed on thedisplay screen of the display 110. Specifically, the message displaysection 304 causes a plurality of display regions for the respectivetime series (that is, one display region per account) to be displayed onthe display screen of the display 110 so as to be arranged along avertical direction. For example, in a case where three time series havebeen obtained by the message acquisition section 302, the three displayregions are displayed so as to be arranged along the vertical direction.

Then, the message display section 304 causes posted messages of a timeseries corresponding to each of the plurality of display regions to bedisplayed one by one in the each of the plurality of display regions.Note that, by default, the most recently posted message is displayed oneby one, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. In this way,posted messages of the plurality of time series are simultaneouslydisplayed, one posted message per time series, on the display screen ofthe display 110.

The information terminal device 100 of the present embodiment thuscauses time series of a respective plurality of accounts to be displayedsimultaneously and also causes the most recently posted message of eachof the plurality of accounts to be displayed. This allows the user toview easily the most recent information of each of the plurality ofaccounts.

Note that, in a case where not all of the display regions to bedisplayed fit in the display screen, the message display section 304causes a part of the display regions to be displayed on the displayscreen.

Basically each display region has a fixed size, but the message displaysection 304 may change the size of each display region in accordancewith the amount of information of a posted message displayed in thedisplay region (specifically, a display area required for displaying theposted messages). For example, the message display section 304 maychange the size of each display region in the vertical direction whilekeeping the size of the each display region in the horizontal directionfixed.

In a case where the size of each display region is fixed, the messagedisplay section 304 can cause a part of a posted message to be displayedin each display region, or can reduce the size of a posted message andcause the posted message thus reduced in size to be displayed in eachdisplay region.

Note that a posted message may include data other than text data, suchas image data and audio data. The message display section 304 can alsocause data other than text data (or a link to the data other than textdata) to be displayed in a display region.

(Display Change Section)

In a case where an operation is carried out via the touch panel 120 orthe operation button 130 when a posted message is being displayed on thedisplay screen, the display change section 308 causes the contentdisplayed on the display screen to be changed in accordance with thecontent of the operation. A method by which the display change section308 changes the content displayed includes the following (1) through(4).

(1) In a case where a horizontal flicking operation is carried out withrespect to a given one of the plurality of display regions beingdisplayed, the display change section 308, without changing the contentdisplayed in other display regions, changes the posted message to bedisplayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions,sequentially in accordance with the order of posting.

For example, in a case where a leftward flicking operation is carriedout in a given one of the plurality of display regions, the postedmessage to be displayed in the display region is changed to anotherposted message whose posting date and time is later than that of theposted message currently displayed.

In an opposite case where a rightward flicking operation is carried outin a given one of the plurality of display regions, the posted messageto be displayed in the display region is changed to another postedmessage whose posting date and time is earlier than that of the postedmessage currently displayed.

(2) In a case where a vertical flicking operation is carried out withrespect to the display screen when a part of a plurality of displayregions is being displayed on the display screen (that is, when not allof the display regions can be displayed on the display screen), thedisplay change section 308 causes the positions where the plurality ofdisplay regions are displayed to be scrolled in the vertical direction,so that the display region to be displayed on the display screen issequentially changed.

For example, in a case where an upward flicking operation is carriedout, the display change section 308 causes the part of the plurality ofdisplay regions to be scrolled upward, so that another display region,whose display order is later than that of the part of the plurality ofdisplay regions, is displayed in a space which has become available in alower part of the display screen.

In an opposite case where a downward flicking operation is carried out,the display change section 308 causes the part of the plurality ofdisplay regions to be scrolled downward, so that another display region,whose display order is earlier than that of the part of the plurality ofdisplay regions, is displayed in a space which has become available inan upper part of the display screen.

(3) In a case where a predetermined selecting operation is carried outwith respect to a given one of a plurality of display regions beingdisplayed on the display screen, a plurality of posted messages of onetime series corresponding to the given one of the plurality of displayregions are displayed on the display screen so as to be arranged alongthe vertical direction in order of posting.

(4) In a case where a vertical flicking operation is carried out withrespect to the display screen when a part of the plurality of postedmessages of the given one of the plurality of time series is beingdisplayed on the display screen (that is, not all of the posted messagescan be displayed on the display screen) as a result of (3), thepositions where the plurality of posted messages are displayed arescrolled in the vertical direction, so that the posted message to bedisplayed in the display screen is sequentially changed.

For example, in a case where an upward flicking operation is carriedout, the part of the plurality of posted messages is scrolled upward, sothat another posted message, whose posting order is later than that ofthe part of the plurality of posted messages, to be displayed in a spacethat has become available in a lower part of the display screen.

In an opposite case where a downward flicking operation is carried out,the part of the plurality of posted messages is scrolled downward, sothat another posted message, whose posting order is earlier than that ofthe part of the plurality of posted messages, is displayed in a spacethat has become available in an upper part of the display screen.

(Procedures of Display Process)

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the following description will discussprocedures of a display process carried out by the information terminaldevice 100 in accordance with the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchartshowing the procedures of the display process carried out by theinformation terminal device 100 in accordance with the embodiment.

(Display of Message)

First, the message acquisition section 302 obtains, from amessage-posting site, posted messages of each of a plurality of timeseries (step 402).

Next, the message display section 304 causes a plurality of displayregions of the respective plurality of time series to be displayed onthe display screen of the display 110 so as to be arranged along thevertical direction (step 404).

Then, the message display section 304 causes posted messages of a timeseries corresponding to each of the plurality of display regions to bedisplayed one by one in the each of the plurality of display regions(step 406).

(Change of Message Displayed)

In a case where an operation is subsequently carried out by the touchpanel 120 or the operation button 130 (step S408), the display changesection 308 causes the content displayed on the display screen to bechanged in accordance with the content of the operation (steps S410through S420).

For example, in a case where a horizontal flicking operation is carriedout with respect to a given one of the plurality of display regionsbeing displayed on the display screen (step S410: Yes), the displaychange section 308 changes the posted message to be displayed in thegiven one of the plurality of display regions to another posted message(step S412). Then, the information terminal device 100 causes theprocess to return to step S408.

In a case where a vertical flicking operation is carried out withrespect to the plurality of display regions being displayed on thedisplay screen (step S414: Yes), the display change section 308 causesthe plurality of display regions to be scrolled in the verticaldirection (step S416) and causes another display region to be displayedon the display screen (step S418). Then, the information terminal device100 causes the process to return to step S408.

In a case where a predetermined selecting operation is carried out withrespect to a given one of the plurality of display regions beingdisplayed on the display screen (step S420), the display change section308 causes a plurality of posted messages of a time series correspondingto the given one of the plurality of display regions to be displayed onthe display screen so as to be arranged along the vertical direction inorder of posting (step S422).

Then, in a case where a vertical flicking operation is further carriedout with respect to the plurality of posted messages displayed on thedisplay screen (step S424: Yes), the display change section 308 causeseach of the plurality of posted messages to be scrolled in the verticaldirection (step S426), and causes another posted message to be displayedon the display screen (step S428). Subsequently, the informationterminal device 100 causes the process to return to step S424.

(Specific Example of Display Process)

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 through 10, the following descriptionwill discuss a specific example of the display process carried out bythe information terminal device 100.

(Initial Display)

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a specific example of the display processcarried out by the information terminal device 100 in accordance withthe embodiment, the view illustrating an example of how the messagedisplay section 304 causes a plurality of display regions to bedisplayed.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a display region 502, a displayregion 504, and a display region 506 are displayed so as to be arrangedin the vertical direction on the display screen of the display 110.

The display region 502 is allocated to an application “app A” and is fordisplaying a time series of an account. The display region 504 isallocated to an application “app B” and is for displaying a time seriesof an account. The display region 506 is allocated to an application“app C” and is for displaying a time series of an account.

FIG. 5 and subsequent drawings illustrate an example in which a title ofan application corresponding to each display region is displayed in theeach display region. Note that any information can be displayed in eachdisplay region provided that the information is related to a specificaccount of a specific message-posting service. For example, in place ofor in addition to the title of the application, a name of themessage-posting service, a name of the account, and a service name thatuses the account, a company name that uses the account, etc. can bedisplayed.

In each display region, the title of a corresponding application(indicated by “a” in FIG. 5), a profile image (indicated by “b” in FIG.5), and the most recently posted message in the time series of acorresponding account (indicated by “c” in FIG. 5) are displayed.Further, in each display region, a “<” button (indicated by “d” in FIG.5), a “>” button (indicated by “e” in FIG. 5), and a “view more” button(indicated by “f” in FIG. 5) are displayed.

For example, the display screen described above is displayed when aninformation distribution service is used, and the accounts describedabove are collectively obtained from a provider of the informationdistribution service when the information distribution service is used.

The information distribution service in the present embodiment can beone realized by a dedicated application installed in the informationterminal device 100, or one realized by a web page displayed on a webbrowser.

Although the display regions have an identical size in FIG. 5, thedisplay regions can have respective different sizes. For example, thesize of each of the display regions (in particular, the size in thevertical direction) can be automatically adjusted in accordance with theamount of information of a posted message displayed in the each of thedisplay regions.

In this case, the size of each of the display regions can be adjusted sothat all of the information included in a posted message is displayed.Further, the size of each of the display regions can be limited so asnot to exceed a predetermined threshold value.

Further, the size of each of the display regions can be changed by meansof an operation by the user. For example, it is possible to employ aconfiguration in which the size of a display region is initially maderelatively small so that a part of the information of the postedmessages (for example, information equivalent of 10 lines) is displayed,and, in a case where the user carries out an operation for enlarging thedisplay region, the size of the display region is enlarged so that allof the information of the posted message is displayed.

Note that in some cases, a new message is posted with respect to atleast one of the plurality of time series thus being displayed, so thatthe at least one of the plurality of time series is updated. Theinformation terminal device 100 can immediately reflect the update ofthe at least one of the plurality of time series. Alternatively, insteadof immediately reflecting the update, the information terminal device100 can reflect the update when a predetermined update condition (forexample, when a predetermined update button is pressed, when display asillustrated in FIG. 5 is carried out again, when display as illustratedin FIG. 10 is carried out, and the like) is satisfied.

(At the Time of Horizontal Flicking Operation)

FIGS. 6 and 11 are views each illustrating a specific example of thedisplay process carried out by the information terminal device 100 inaccordance with the embodiment, the views each illustrating an exampleof a horizontal flicking operation. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating aspecific example of the display process carried out by the informationterminal device 100 in accordance with the embodiment, the viewillustrating an example of how the display change section 308 causes thecontent displayed on the display screen to be changed.

As described above, in a case where a horizontal flicking operation iscarried out with respect to a given one of a plurality of displayregions being displayed on the display screen, the information terminaldevice 100 of the present embodiment causes the posted message which isto be displayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions tobe changed to another posted message.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in a case where a leftwardflicking operation is carried out with respect to the display region 504among the display regions 502, 504, and 506 illustrated FIG. 5, theinformation terminal device 100 changes the posted message to bedisplayed in the display region 504 from a currently displayed postedmessage to another posted message whose posting date and time is laterthan that of the currently displayed posted message.

This causes the new, another posted message to be displayed in thedisplay region 504 as illustrated in FIG. 7. At this time, both of thedisplay regions 502 and 506 remain in a state before the leftwardflicking operation was carried out, and there is no change in the postedmessages displayed in the respective display regions 502 and 506.

Note that the example illustrated in FIG. 6 is an example in which ahorizontal flicking operation with respect to a display region causes awhole of the display region to be scrolled in the horizontal direction,so that the posted message is changed to another one. Alternatively, itis possible to employ a configuration in which, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 11, the horizontal flicking operation causes onlythe posted message to be changed to another one without causing thewhole of the display region to be scrolled in the horizontal direction.

(At the Time of Vertical Flicking Operation)

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a specific example of the display processcarried out by the information terminal device 100 in accordance withthe embodiment, the view illustrating an example of a vertical flickingoperation. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a specific example of thedisplay process carried out by the information terminal device 100 inaccordance with the embodiment, the view illustrating an example of howthe display change section 308 causes the content displayed on thedisplay screen to be changed.

As described above, in a case where a vertical flicking operation iscarried out with respect to a plurality of display regions beingdisplayed on the display screen, the information terminal device 100 ofthe present embodiment scrolls each of the display regions in thevertical direction, and displays another display region on the displayscreen.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in a case where an upwardflicking operation is carried out with respect to the display regions502, 504, and 506 illustrated in FIG. 7, the information terminal device100 scrolls the display regions 502, 504, and 506 upward. Consequently,as illustrated in FIG. 8, the display region 502 is scrolled out of thedisplay screen from an upper part of the display screen, and in place ofthe display region 502, the display region 508 is scrolled into thedisplay screen from a lower part of the display screen. As a result, thedisplay regions 504, 506, and 508 are displayed on the display screendisplay as illustrated in FIG. 9.

(At the Time of Predetermined Selecting Operation)

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a specific example of the display processcarried out by the information terminal device 100 in accordance withthe embodiment, the view illustrating an example of how the displaychange section 308 causes the content displayed on the display screen tobe changed.

As described above, in a case where a predetermined selecting operationis carried out with respect to a given one of a plurality of displayregions being displayed on the display screen, the information terminaldevice 100 of the present embodiment causes a plurality of postedmessages of a time series corresponding to the given one of theplurality of display regions to be displayed on the display screen so asto be arranged in order of posting. In the present embodiment, anoperation of selecting the “view more” button displayed in each displayregion is set as the predetermined selecting operation.

Further, in a case where a vertical flicking operation is carried outwith respect to the display screen when a plurality of posted messagesof a time series are being displayed on the display screen, theinformation terminal device 100 of the present embodiment scrolls theplurality of posted messages in the vertical direction, so that theposted message to be displayed on the display screen is sequentiallychanged.

For example, in a case where an operation of selecting the “view more”button is carried out in the display region 504 illustrated in FIG. 9,the information terminal device 100 causes a plurality of postedmessages of a time series corresponding to the display region 504 (thatis, a time series including only posted messages of the application “appB”) to be displayed on the display screen so as to be arranged along thevertical direction in order of posting, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Further, in a case where an upward flicking operation is carried outwith respect to the display screen of the display 120, the informationterminal device 100 scrolls the plurality of posted messages of theapplication “app B” upward, so that more recently posted messages of theapplication “app B” are sequentially displayed on the display screen ofthe display 120.

In an opposite case where a downward flicking operation is carried outwith respect the display screen of the display 120, the informationterminal device 100 scrolls the plurality of posted messages of theapplication “app B” downward, so that less recently posted messages ofthe application “app B” are sequentially displayed on the display screenof the display 120.

In this way, according to the information terminal device 100 of thepresent embodiment, the user can simultaneously view a plurality of timeseries by means of a plurality of display regions displayed on thedisplay screen.

In particular, in a case where the user wants to sequentially viewposted messages of a given specific account, the user can do so bymerely carrying out a simple and reliable operation, i.e., a horizontalflicking operation with respect to a corresponding display region,without moving his/her eyes from the corresponding display region.

Further, even in a case where not all of a plurality of time series fitin the display screen, the user can sequentially view the plurality oftime series by a simple and reliable operation, i.e., a verticalflicking operation with respect to the display screen.

In particular, since a flicking operation for sequentially viewingposted messages of a specific account and a flicking operation forsequentially viewing a plurality of time series are carried out inrespective different directions, the user can carry out these operationsintuitively and reliably.

Further, in a case where the user wants to simultaneously view aplurality of messages of a specific time series, the user can do so bysimply carrying out a predetermined selecting operation (operation ofselecting the “view more” button) with respect to the display region ofthe specific time series.

Modified Example

In the embodiment, the direction along which a plurality of time seriesdisplayed are arranged (first direction) coincides with the verticaldirection, and the direction in which an operation for changing displayof posted messages of a given time series is carried out (seconddirection) coincides with the horizontal direction.

In the present invention, it is suffice to at least design such that thefirst direction and the second direction are different from each other(in a preferred example, the first direction and the second directionintersect with each other at right angle). The present invention can bepracticed in such a manner that display directions and operationdirections including the first direction and the second direction aredifferent from those in the embodiment.

For example, the present invention can be practiced in such a mannerthat each display direction and each display direction coinciding withthe “vertical direction” in the embodiment coincide with the “horizontaldirection” instead, and each display direction and each displaydirection coinciding with the “horizontal direction” in the embodimentcoincide with the “vertical direction” instead.

In this case, for example, a plurality of time series are displayed soas to be arranged along the horizontal direction of the display screen.In order to change display of posted messages of a given one of theplurality of time series, a vertical flicking operation is carried outwith respect to the display region. In order to change the displayregion to be displayed on the display screen, a horizontal flickingoperation is carried out with respect to the display screen.

(Program and Storage Medium)

Each function of the information terminal device 100 described in theembodiment may be realized by means of hardware by use of logic circuitsprovided on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or may be realized by meansof software by use of a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

For example, the information terminal device 100 includes a CPU forexecuting commands of a program for implementing each function, and astorage device (recording medium) of any kind such as a ROM in which theprogram is stored, a RAM on which the program is loaded, a memory inwhich the program and various data are stored. Each function of theinformation terminal device 100 can be realized by causing the CPU toread out and execute the program stored in the storage device.

For example, a tape such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape; a diskincluding (i) a magnetic disk such as a floppy (Registered Trademark)disk or a hard disk and (ii) an optical disc such as a CD-ROM, an MO, anMD, a DVD, or a CD-R; a card such as an IC card (including a memorycard) or an optical card; a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, anEPROM, an EEPROM (Registered Trademark), or a flash ROM; a logic circuitsuch as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or an FPGA (Field ProgrammableGate Array); or the like can be used as the recording medium.

The program may be delivered to the information terminal device 100 overa communications network. The communications network can be of any typeas long as at least the program can be transmitted to the informationterminal device 100. The communications network may be, for example, theInternet, an intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communicationsnetwork, virtual dedicated network (virtual private network), telephoneline network, mobile communications network, or satellite communicationsnetwork.

A transfer medium for delivering the program to the information terminaldevice 100 can be of any type. The transfer medium may be, for example,wired line, such as IEEE 1394, USB, electric power line, cable TV line,telephone line, or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line.Alternatively, the transfer medium may be wireless, such as infraredradiation (IrDA, remote control), Bluetooth (Registered Trademark), IEEE802.11 wireless, HDR (High Data Rate), NFC (Near Field Communication),DLNA, mobile telephone network, satellite line, or terrestrial digitalnetwork.

(Additional Matter)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodimentsbut allows various modifications within the scope of the claims. Anyembodiment derived from an appropriate combination of the technicalmeans disclosed in the different embodiments will also be included inthe technical scope of the present invention.

(Applications of the Present Invention)

The embodiment discussed an example case in which the present inventionis applied to an information terminal device. The present invention isapplicable to any device that is at least capable of displaying postedmessages of a message-posting site. For example, the present inventionis applicable to a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a personalcomputer, a car navigation system, a television receiver, and the like.

(Flicking Operation)

In the embodiment, a horizontal flicking operation and a verticalflicking operation are employed as an example of a moving operation inthe horizontal direction and a moving operation in the verticaldirection, respectively. Note that the information terminal device 100can also be configured such that, also in a case where operations(button operation etc.) equivalent to the horizontal and verticalflicking operations are carried out instead of the horizontal andvertical flicking operations, the information terminal device 100operates similarly as when the horizontal and vertical flickingoperations are carried out.

For example, the information terminal device 100 can be configured suchthat, in a case where an upward or downward operation (for example, (i)an upward or downward moving operation by means of a mouse, a controlwheel, a track ball, or the like, (ii) pressing of an “up” button or a“down” button (including a hardware button and a software button), or(iii) the like) is carried out, the information terminal device 100operates similarly as when a vertical flicking operation is carried out.

Further, the information terminal device 100 can be configured suchthat, in a case where, after a given display region has been selected, arightward or leftward operation (for example, (i) a rightward orleftward moving operation by means of a mouse, a control wheel, a trackball, or the like, (ii) pressing of a “right” button or a “left” button(including a hardware button and a software button), or (iii) the like)is carried out, the information terminal device 100 operates similarlyas when a horizontal flicking operation is carried out with respect tothe display region.

(Unit of Display of Posted Messages)

In the embodiment, a unit of display of posted messages in a displayregion and a unit of change of the display of the posted messages in thedisplay region are both one by one, but can also be two by two or largerunits.

[Conclusion]

As described above, the display device (information terminal device 100)in accordance with the present embodiment is a display device capable ofdisplaying, on a display screen, a posted message of a message-postingsite, including: message display means (message display section 304)which (i) displays a plurality of display regions on the display screenso that the plurality of display regions are arranged along a firstdirection of the display screen, the plurality of display regions eachbeing for a time series of posted messages, and (ii) displays, in eachof the plurality of display regions, a posted message of a time seriescorresponding to the each of the plurality of display regions; anddisplay change means (display change section 308) which, in a case wherea moving operation in a second direction, which is different from thefirst direction, is carried out with respect to a given one of theplurality of display regions, sequentially changes a posted message tobe displayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions.

According to the display device, the user can view a plurality of timeseries on the same display screen. In particular, the provision of theplurality of display regions for the respective time series allowsclearly recognizing that the time series are distinguished from oneanother. When the user sequentially views posted messages of a specificaccount, the user can do so without moving his/her eyes from acorresponding display region.

Further, according to the display device, the sequential viewing ofposted messages of a specific account is realized by a simple andreliable operation, i.e., a moving operation in the second directionwith respect to a corresponding display region. In particular, since (i)the moving operation is carried out in the second direction (e.g., thehorizontal direction) different from the first direction (e.g., thevertical direction) along which the plurality of display regions arearranged and (ii) the moving operation does not affect content displayedin other display regions, the moving operation is more reliable despitebeing an intuitive operation.

Furthermore, according to the display device, since a moving operationin the second direction with respect to a display region does not affectother display regions, it is also possible to display a given postedmessage in a display region while displaying a posted message in anotherdisplay region, so that these messages can be compared with each other.

The display device preferably has a configuration in which the messagedisplay means displays, one by one in each of the plurality of displayregions, a posted message of a time series corresponding to the each ofthe plurality of display regions; and in a case where a moving operationin the second direction is carried out with respect to a given one ofthe plurality of display regions, the display change means sequentiallychanges, one by one, a posted message to be displayed in the given oneof the plurality of display regions.

According to the configuration, posted messages are displayed one by onein each of the plurality of display regions, so that the size of theeach of the plurality of display regions can be minimized, and moredisplay regions can be displayed on the display screen, accordingly. Inparticular, in a case where a plurality of messages are displayed in asingle display region so as to be arranged along the first direction,the user tends to erroneously carry out a moving operation in the firstdirection (e.g., such cases where even though a message cannot bechanged to another message by a moving operation in the first direction,the user carries out a moving operation in the first direction with anintention to change a message to another message), whereas according tothe display device, posted messages are displayed one by one in a singledisplay region, so that the user is not likely to erroneously carry outa moving operation in the first direction.

The display device preferably has a configuration in which, in a casewhere a moving operation in the first direction is carried out withrespect to the display screen when the plurality of display regions arebeing displayed on the display screen, the display change means movesdisplay positions of the respective plurality of display regions in thefirst direction, thereby sequentially changing a display region to bedisplayed on the display screen.

According to the configuration, an operation for sequentially viewingposted messages of a specific account and an operation for sequentiallyviewing the plurality of time series are carried out in respectivedifferent directions. This allows the user to operate these operationsintuitively and reliably.

In particular, since an operation in the first direction does not affectcontent displayed in each of the plurality of display regions, it ispossible to sequentially view the plurality of time series while aposted message displayed in the each of the plurality of display regionsis fixed.

Further, the user can carry out an operation in the second directionwith respect to each of the plurality of display regions so as to causea given posted message to be displayed in the each of the displayregion, and then, in this state, carry out an operation in the firstdirection, thereby comparing given posted messages of the respectiveplurality of time series with one another.

The display device preferably has a configuration in which, in a casewhere a predetermined selecting operation is carried out with respect toa given one of the plurality of display regions, the display changemeans displays, on the display screen, a plurality of posted messages ofa time series corresponding to the given one of the plurality of displayregions so that the plurality of posted messages are arranged along thefirst direction of the display screen.

According to the configuration, the user can not only view a pluralityof time series simultaneously, but also easily view more information ofa given time series by carrying out the predetermined selectingoperation.

The display device preferably has a configuration in which, in a casewhere a moving operation in the first direction is carried out withrespect to the display screen when the plurality of posted messages ofthe given one of the plurality of time series are being displayed on thedisplay screen, the display change means moves display positions of therespective plurality of posted messages in the first direction, therebysequentially changing a posted message to be displayed on the displayscreen.

According to the configuration, a direction along which a plurality ofposted messages are arranged, a direction in which the plurality ofposted messages are moved, and a direction in which a moving operationfor causing the movement is carried out are identical. This allows theuser to view a plurality of posted messages easily by an intuitive andreliable operation.

Further, an information terminal device in accordance with the presentembodiment includes the display device.

According to the information terminal device, it is possible to providean information terminal device that brings about similar advantageouseffects as those provided by the display device.

Further, the display method in accordance with the present embodiment isa display method for displaying, on a display screen, a posted messageof a message-posting site, comprising the steps of: (i) displaying aplurality of display regions on the display screen so that the pluralityof display regions are arranged along a first direction of the displayscreen, the plurality of display regions each being for a time series ofposted messages, and (ii) displaying, in each of the plurality ofdisplay regions, a posted message of a time series corresponding to theeach of the plurality of display regions; and in a case where a movingoperation in a second direction, which is different from the firstdirection, is carried out with respect to a given one of the pluralityof display regions, sequentially changing a posted message to bedisplayed in the given one of the plurality of display regions.

According to the display method, it is possible to provide a displaydevice with which, by causing the display device to carry out thedisplay method, similar advantageous effects as those achieved by thedisplay device are provided.

Further, the program in accordance with the present embodiment is aprogram for causing a computer to function as the display device, theprogram being configured to cause the computer to function as each ofthe means of the display device.

According to the program, it is possible to provide a computer withwhich, by causing the computer to execute the program, similaradvantageous effects as those achieved by the display device areprovided.

Further, the recording medium in accordance with the present embodimentis a computer-readable recording medium in which the program recited isstored.

According to the recording medium, it is possible to provide, to aprogram via the recording medium, the program capable of providingsimilar advantageous effects as those achieved by the display device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to a various display device, such asan information terminal device, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA, apersonal computer, which is capable of displaying a posted message ofmessage-posting site.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100 INFORMATION TERMINAL DEVICE (DISPLAY DEVICE)-   102 PROCESSING CIRCUIT-   104 STORAGE DEVICE-   108 DISPLAY DRIVING CIRCUIT-   110 DISPLAY-   120 TOUCH PANEL-   130 OPERATION BUTTON-   140 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS MODULE-   302 MESSAGE ACQUISITION SECTION-   304 MESSAGE DISPLAY SECTION (MESSAGE DISPLAY MEANS)-   308 DISPLAY CHANGE SECTION (DISPLAY CHANGE MEANS)

1. A display device capable of displaying, on a display screen, a postedmessage of each of a plurality of accounts respectively corresponding toa plurality of message-posting sites, comprising: message display meanswhich (i) displays a plurality of display regions on the display screenso that the plurality of display regions are arranged along a firstdirection of the display screen so as to be distinguishable from eachother, the plurality of display regions each being for displaying aposted message of a corresponding one of the plurality of accounts, and(ii) displays, in each of the plurality of display regions, a postedmessage of a time series of an account corresponding to the each of theplurality of display regions; and display change means which, in a casewhere a moving operation in a second direction, which is different fromthe first direction, is carried out with respect to a display regioncorresponding to a given one of the plurality of accounts among theplurality of display regions, sequentially changes a posted message ofthe given one of the plurality of accounts to be displayed in thedisplay region.
 2. The display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the message display means displays, one by one in each of the pluralityof display regions, a posted message of a time series of an accountcorresponding to the each of the plurality of display regions; and in acase where a moving operation in the second direction is carried outwith respect to a display region corresponding to a given one of theplurality of accounts among the plurality of display regions, thedisplay change means sequentially changes, one by one, a posted messageof the given one of the plurality of accounts to be displayed in thedisplay region.
 3. The display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:in a case where a moving operation in the first direction is carried outwith respect to the display screen when the plurality of display regionsare being displayed on the display screen, the display change meansmoves display positions of the respective plurality of display regionsin the first direction, thereby sequentially changing a display regionto be displayed on the display screen.
 4. A display device as set forthin claim 1, wherein: in a case where a predetermined selecting operationis carried out with respect to a display region corresponding to a givenone of the plurality of accounts among the plurality of display regions,the display change means displays, on the display screen, a plurality ofposted messages of a time series of the given one of the plurality ofaccounts so that the plurality of posted messages are arranged along thefirst direction of the display screen.
 5. The display device as setforth in claim 4, wherein: in a case where a moving operation in thefirst direction is carried out with respect to the display screen whenthe plurality of posted messages of the time series of the given one ofthe plurality of accounts are being displayed on the display screen, thedisplay change means moves display positions of the respective pluralityof posted messages in the first direction, thereby sequentially changinga posted message to be displayed on the display screen.
 6. Aninformation terminal device comprising a display device recited inclaim
 1. 7. A display method for displaying, on a display screen, aposted message of each of a plurality of accounts respectivelycorresponding to a plurality of message-posting sites, comprising thesteps of: (i) displaying a plurality of display regions on the displayscreen so that the plurality of display regions are arranged along afirst direction of the display screen so as to be distinguishable fromeach other, the plurality of display regions each being for displaying aposted message of a corresponding one of the plurality of accounts, and(ii) displaying, in each of the plurality of display regions, a postedmessage of a time series of an account corresponding to the each of theplurality of display regions; and in a case where a moving operation ina second direction, which is different from the first direction, iscarried out with respect to a display region corresponding to a givenone of the plurality of accounts among the plurality of display regions,sequentially changing a posted message of the given one of the pluralityof accounts to be displayed in the display region.
 8. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium in which a program configured tocause a computer to function as each of the means of a display devicerecited in claim 1 is stored.
 9. (canceled)